Ch. 497: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life Chapter 497

Chapter 497

Norah’s biological father was revealed to be a pharaoh of the Yi tribe, a man whose reign was marked by brutality. His rule was plagued by internal conflict, with his followers burning villages, killing innocents, and looting without mercy. He even established slave camps and conducted horrific experiments on living people. The exposure of his crimes sent shockwaves across international forums, and Norah, once a respected journalist advocating for peace, was now branded as the "Demon Daughter." The revelation sparked outrage, with people questioning how someone so kind-hearted could be the child of such a monster.

"Look at her father! How could she possibly be any different?""Our country is too lenient. If it weren’t for our commitment to peace, the Yi tribe would have been wiped out by now!""Norah’s a fraud. Her father’s a monster, and she pretends to be some kind of justice warrior.""She’s a spy planted by the pharaoh in the capital!""Didn’t she used to be married to Kevin? And then he died in the Yi tribe. She probably killed him herself!""She’s a traitor! She doesn’t deserve to call herself a journalist. She’s a hypocrite!""Let’s report her to the Craggaville Letters and Visits Bureau. The army needs to arrest her and make her pay!""She deserves to die!"

Norah read every single comment. The reports she had written were meant to bring justice and advocate for peace, but instead of sparking change, they had turned into a weapon against her. The words cut deeper than any blade, and though she had witnessed life and death firsthand over the past five years, the cruelty of the accusations still stung.

Baimo, standing by her side, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Julie, if these people won’t accept you, come back to the Yi tribe with me. You’ll always have a place there."

Norah didn’t respond immediately. Her dark eyes were clouded with confusion and doubt, but also a quiet determination. She looked at Baimo, searching for answers.

"Julie, I want you to come back, but I would never resort to such underhanded tactics. If I had wanted to, I wouldn’t have told my father five years ago that you were coming to Country S to become a war correspondent," Baimo said, his voice steady and sincere.

Norah remained silent, but her mind raced. Baimo’s words made sense. If he had wanted to manipulate her, he’d had five years to do so. But what he said next shocked her even more.

"Do you think just anyone can become a war correspondent?" Baimo continued, seeing the doubt in her eyes. "Norah, it wasn’t just me or my father who made it happen. Kevin played a part too."

Norah’s brow furrowed. Kevin had died five years ago, and his death had been reported worldwide. How could he have had any influence on her career? Before she could ask, Baimo explained, "Don’t forget Kevin’s position in the Chinese military. Even after his death, his connections remained. Levi and Frank, his subordinates, have risen through the ranks over the past five years. They had a hand in your placement."

Norah’s throat tightened. She didn’t know how to respond.

"Let’s go," Baimo urged. "With all this attention, the Chinese military will undoubtedly investigate you. It’s not safe here."

"I’m not leaving," Norah said firmly. "I’m innocent. I’m not a spy, and I haven’t done anything wrong."

If she left now, it would only make her look guilty. But she also realized that Baimo’s presence put him at risk. "Baimo, you should go," she said, her voice steady but laced with concern.

"Do you really think I’d leave you here alone?" Baimo took her hand, his grip firm. "I won’t abandon you. Besides, given the current tensions between the Yi tribe and Craggaville, they won’t dare detain me. And Kevin’s death has already been thoroughly investigated. They have no grounds to hold me."

Norah didn’t argue further. She knew she wasn’t a spy, but she owed it to the public to clear her name. She would cooperate with the investigation, even if it meant handing over her recent call logs and other personal details.

As Norah prepared to leave, Cooper, a young boy who had been by her side, clung to her hand. Norah knelt down, her voice gentle but firm. "Cooper, stay with Uncle Baimo. I need to handle some things with these officers. Be good, okay?"

She looked up at Baimo, her eyes filled with silent trust. Baimo nodded. "Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Cooper."

Norah’s strength lay in her ability to face challenges head-on. She wasn’t one to run away. And since Cooper was her biggest concern, she knew Baimo would keep him safe.

Once Norah was gone, Baimo turned to Cooper. "Who sent you here? You haven’t spoken a word since you arrived."

Cooper remained silent, his expression unreadable. Baimo’s suspicion grew. "I don’t care who arranged this or what your purpose is. But if you hurt Norah or try to stay by her side indefinitely, you’ll regret it."

Cooper simply stared at him, offering no response.

Meanwhile, Norah was taken to a car. Before she could react, a sack was thrown over her head, and a blow to the back of her neck knocked her unconscious.

When she woke up, the car was still moving, bumping along an uneven road. She wasn’t gagged, and she was still alive. Gathering her courage, she called out, "Who are you? What do you want?"

No one answered.

She tried again. "I’m Kevin’s ex-wife, and I’m still connected to the Yi tribe—"

A mocking voice interrupted her. "Ms. White, you’ve always been so reluctant to embrace your identity. Funny how you remember it now that your life’s on the line. I guess family ties don’t mean much when survival’s at stake."

The voice was unfamiliar—not someone from the Yi tribe, nor Calvin. Could it be one of Calvin’s remaining followers?

Norah kept her composure. "If anything happens to me, do you really think you’ll get away with it?"

Even in this dire situation, Norah’s courage and sharp mind didn’t falter. She wasn’t one to panic, no matter how dire the circumstances.